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| "21" Outsmarting Vegas |
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| Reviews - DVD | |
| Written by Carol Barwick | |
| Tuesday, 22 July 2008 | |
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 Rated: PG-13 It is a classic tale of how honor and innocense can fall victim to the lure of easy money and an extravagant lifestyle. The stakes are high, not just in the money to be won or lost, but in the very real risk of being caught by a casino security officer who believes in emphasizing his point of view physically. The film 21 sets out to get its audience strongly invested in its central character, Ben Campbell (Sturgess), who is a brilliant and very likable young MIT student with big goals. He wants to go to medical school - at Harvard - and all he needs to make his dreams become reality is a full scholarship, that, or $300,000 ... or a miracle. His miracle, at least so it seems, comes in the form of his math professor, Mickey Rosa (Spacey), who introduces him one evening to a select group of students who’ve gathered together to hone their skills ... their skills at counting cards.Ben resists at first. Counting cards isn’t actually illegal, but the casinos don’t particularly smile upon those who do it successfully and the consequences of being caught can be somewhat uncomfortable, to say the least. And Ben has goals; he has worked long and hard to keep his grades up and his image clean to help insure Harvard would view him favorably as a potential student. Then he learns that part of being accepted at the prestigious school is being a candidate who can dazzle the decision-makers, and Ben quickly sees that his life experience to date doesn’t lend itself well to exciting them. The final nudge comes in the form of a smart and sexy blonde who Ben has had his eye on for a while, but has been too shy to talk to. Jill (Bosworth) just happens to be a member of Professor Rosa’s secret club and she helps ensure that Ben is seduced by the money, the lifestyle and the proximity to herself. Overall, 21 is an enjoyable film that meshes the quaint side of Boston with the glamorous night-life of Las Vegas into an intriguing tale, clearly moreso because of its foundation in truth, but as the glitter begins to fade and motivations change, some aspects of the story get a bit murky and hard to follow. Previously likable characters start to show their darker side and by its conclusion, the film seems to send the message that getting even may be better than doing the right thing. When the closing credits roll, you aren't likely to feel you've hit the jackpot, but you can say you experienced the thrill of the ride and still went home with all your money safely in your pocket. Starring: Kevin Spacey, Lawrence Fishburne, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth
This Reviewer's Rating:
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